Prospecting instrument



No. 749,718. PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904.

.M. CHASE.

PROSPEGTING INSTRUMENT. ABPLIIOATION FILED APR. 30, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

witnessed: v V v Jiz%n PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904. M. CHASE. PROSPEGTINGINSTRUMENT. APPLIOATIQN FILEJD APRZZO, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Min-2066x527 JV. X5. 9L :2. Qwc w N0.'749,71a. PATENTED JAN. 19;:1904.

- M. CHASE.

PROSPEGTING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1992.

N0 MODEL M. CHASE. P ROSPEOTING INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 30, 1902. N0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 4- 11/1 'Z/zecdew QQM q M f XQLI ZQQH.

PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904.

I No. 749,718.

' UNITED STATES Patented January 19, i904.

PATENT OFFICE.

PROSPECTI'NG INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofl'LettersPatent Nil)- 749,718, datedJanuary 19, 1904.

' Application filed April so, 1902. SerialNo. 105,261. 11. model.)

[To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MILTON CHASE, of Haverhill, county of Essex, andState of Massachw setts, have invented an Improvement in ProS- pectingInstruments, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to means for boring holes to a considerable'depthin the ground for the purpose of prospecting or securing Samples of theearth before sinking a shaft;

and its special object is to provide a means for accomplishing the abovepurpose which.

is especially adapted to be used in boring through frozen earth andwhich is provided with means with which samples of the earth may beconveniently drawn to the surface, so that the boring-tool may becleared and the character of the borings ascertained.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for driving theboring-tool which are especially adapted to be operated by handpower.

I accomplish the above-named ob ects by providing a boring-tool withpassages through which a heated liquid may be circulated to heat thetool, so that it will melt the frost or ice in the earth, and thusrender the work of driving the tool much less than if it were notheated. I further provide an earth receiving andexcavatingdevice whichis attached to the tool and is adapted to receive the earth as it isdischarged from the cutting-blade thereof, said device being adapted tobe withdrawn when desirable, so that the tool maybe freed of borings andthe quality of the earth be tested. I further providea-movable-pla'tform on which'the persons who drive the boringtool maystand, so that their weightwill actto. force the tool downwardly whilethey are operating the tool-rotating mechanism.

For a more complete understandingof my invention reference is made tothe accompanying drawings, i n"'which*, I Figure 1 is a side elevationshow-ing'the manner of using my inventigm. Fig.2 is a .central verticalcross-sectlon of the tool rotating, liquid-circulating, and heatingmeans. Fig. 3 is aplan view, partly in cross-section,

on the line w m of 1.. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the tool-rotatingmechanism. Fig.

"5 is a partial cross-section on the line b of'Fig.

6. Fig. 6 is a cross-Section onthe line 0 of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 arecross-sections on the lines cl d and e 0, respectively, of Fig. 6.

,Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the drillingtool. Figs. 10 and 11 aredetail views of the handle of the earth-removingv device, 10

being a cross-section andFig. 11 a central longitudinal section. Fig. 121s an end vlew of one of the shaft-sections. Fig. 13 is a detail view ofa part of the earth-removing device. Fig. 14 is aplan view of theburner. Fig. 15 is a detail view showing the valve in a closed position.Fig. 16 is an elevation of a modifiedform of boring-tool. Fig. 17 is anelevation of the upper end ofone of the sections thereof. Fig. 18 is acentral longitudinal seetion of the tool shown in Fig. 16 through one ofthe joints between two sections. Figs. 19 and 22 are similar views ofthe lower end of the tool on sectional planes at right angles to upperend of the tool. Fig. 21 is a bottom view thereof.

. each other. Fig. 20 is a similar view of the As Shown in the drawings,the combined tool rotating-heating, and liquid-circulatingapparatuscomprises a rectangular-shaped frame 1, which 1S provided withbearings '2 2 and 21 21 in its upper end, in which a pair ofshaf-ts 3'are journaled, Said shafts being provided with cranks 4 at their endsand being arranged in alinement. Each shaft is provided with a gear 5,which is adapted to engage a circular rack 6, the latter being firmlysecured to the top ofa metal tank 7. Said tank 7 is cylindrical in formand is secured to a tubular shaft 8, which is centrally arranged thereinin a vertical position. Said shaft 8 is journaled in ball-bearings 9 and10, which are respectively arranged in the upper and .lower horizontalportion of the frame, as'

shown iIiFig. 2. An oil burner 12 is arranged beneath t'he tank 7 andsupported by the frame, the reservoir of said burner being provided witha slot 12, (see Fig. 14), which is adapted to receive the shaft 8, sothat said reservoir may be concentrically arranged with respect to theshaft 8 and the tank 7. An annular shield or chimney 13 is secured tothe tank 7 and projects belowthe bottom thereof, as shown in Fig.2.

A pair, of platforms 26 are flexibly connected to the lower end of theframe 1 by chains 27 their adjacent ends being jointed to collars 28,which are swiveled'on the lower end of shaft 8 and supported by a collar80, which is secured to said shaft. Curved legs 29, having rollers 30 attheir lower ends, are connected to the outer ends of said platforms andare adapted to rest on the ground. Curved arms 11 are rigidly secured tothe vertical portions of frame 1 and extend along the side of eachplatform for a suitable distance thereabove.

The frames 1 are provided with integral guide-lugs 1 at. each sidethereof,-which are adapted to receive vertical standards 31, said swungas the shaft is rotated. A piston 17 isv arranged in the upper end ofthe tubular shaft 8 and is connected to said lever 14 between Y latterbeing provided with an inwardly-open 40.

its ends by a piston-rod 18. A partition 22 extends centrally andlongitudinally of the tubular shaftand divides the same into twopassages 23 and 24, said partition being bent obliquely and connected atits upper end -to the inner surface of the shaft nearly on a levelwiththe middle of the tank. The passages- 23 and 24 are respectivelyconnected to thetanks by means of openings 19 and 20, the

ing check-valve 21. A cheek-valve 25 is also arranged in the passage 24a short distance below the check-valve 21.

A double-turning plug-valve 8 is arranged in the tubular shaft-8 justbelow the frame 1 said valve being adapted to either simultaneouslyclose'or open both of the passages 23 24. The casing ofthe valve. 8 ispreferably brazed or otherwise permanently secured to the shaft 8, andtherefore practically forms an integral part thereof. The endof theshaft 8 which projects below'the valve-casing and on which the collars28 are swiveled is pro,- vided with a flange 8 at its lower end on whica union coupling-ring8 is swiveled.

The lower end of the shaft 8 is provided with a. regular series oflongitudinally-extending,

lugs 8 (see Figs. 5 and 12,) and the central partition 22 extends to thelower end of said shaft 8, as shown in Fig. 5. i 1

A tubular shaft '8', having acentrally-ar-' rangedlongitudinally-extending partition 22, 1s provided with lugs 8 8 atopposite ends,

lugs 8 being adapted to fit. into the notches between the lugs 8 at the-lower end of the shaft 8 and the end of the shaft 8 at which lugs 8 arelocated being threaded to receive the I coupling-ring 8 the opposite'endthereof being provided with a similar coupling-ring 8, which is swiveledthereon. 22 of said shafts 88' are so arranged that when the lugs ofone, shaft engage the notches of the other and the two shafts areconnected by the ring 8 the end of one partition will register with theend of the other, so that they will be substantially cohtinuous.

A boring-tool having a hollow body 33 is provided, the upper end ofwhich is identical in every particular to the'threads, notches, and lugsof the threaded end of the shaft 8, and as the lower end of the shaft 8,having the ring 8, is formed the same asthe lower end of the shaft 8 theupper end of said tool may be connected to the lower end ofthe shaft 8,as shownin Figs. 1, 5, and 6, or directly to the end of the shaft 8. Asshown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the body 33 is concavo-convex in Thepartitions 22 cross-section and is divided by a partition 22", I

The hollow portion of the body 33 extends nearly to its lower end, andsaidpartition 22 extends nearly to the bottom of said hollow portion, sothat a passage-way is left below the lower end of the partition whichconnects the'two chambers into which the body of the 7 tool is dividedby said partition.- vWhen the parts are connected as above described, itwill be clear that the passages 2324 extend to the lower end of thetool, where they are connected, so that whenthe pump-piston 17 isvrecip- 'rocated tll liquid'will be forced down the passage 24 into thelower end of the passage-'- 23, then up the latter and back into thetank- The lower end; of the tool 33 is provided with ablade 35, whichhas tapered'and'bew eled side edges which fit into a correspondingly-tapered and dovetailed groove in the lower end of the body, asshown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 9 and at 61 in the modifiecation'shown in Figs; 16 and 1 9, hereinafter referred to, and has itscutting edge radially arranged with respect to the axis of rotation ofthetooL- (SeeFig. 9.) A screw 35 passes through a'slot in the blade andis threaded into the lower end of the body 33. This screw is notintended to hold the blade in place when the tool is rotatedforwardly inthe operation of cutting, as the tapering side of the groove in whichthe blade is located serves to perform this function; but said screwacts. to prevent the blade from becoming displacedwhen the tool isrotated in the opposite direction. A

shaft 36 is firmly secured tothe body of the tool and extends radiallyfrom its axis substantiallyat right angles to the cutting edge of theblade 35, and a series of knife-edged disks are loosely journaled onsaid shaft, the edges of said disks preferably extending slightly belowthe cutting edgeof the blade.

Said tool 33is also provided with an earth-removing device whichconsists of a tube39,

' open at its lower end and of double convex shape in cross-section andwhich is adapted to be fitted betweenthe guides 33 at the edges of theconcave side of the tool body 33, (see Fig. 7,) the'side of said tube 39next the concave side of the tool-body fitting said concave makesubstantially a perfect cylinder, as shown in Fig. 7. The concave sideof the body is provided with a lip 33, against which the lower edge ofthe inner side of the tool=- 39 abuts, as shown in Fig. 6, said concaveside being curved inwardly below saidlug, form ing an earth-receivingrecess which extends to the edge of the blade 35. The tube 39is providedwith a closed plate 40, of flexible metal, which is fitted to the innersurface of the outer wall of the tube 39, said plate being provided witha series of forks 40* at its lower end:

Said plate is connected to ajointed rod 42,.f

which extends upwardly through the upper end of the tube 39 and isarranged within a tube 41, which is in turn connected to the threadedupper end of thetube '39 by a union coupling-ring 41?. Thelower end ofthe outer wall of the tube 39 is bent inwardly to provide anobliquely-extending lip 39, above which the lower end of the plate 40 isnormally supported. WVhen said plate 40 is moved downwardly, said lip39' will engage the prongs 40 of the plate 40 and. bendthem to anoblique position, as shown in Fig.1 6, so thatthe ends of the prongswill engage the inner side of the tube. The lower ends of said plate arecurved, (see Fig. 13,) so'that when it is moved down to its lowestposition it will fit against the opposite wall of the tube. The tube 411is threaded at its upper end, so that similar sections of tubing,likewise having a couplingring at one end and screw-threads at theother, may be connected thereto. The rod 42 may also be made in sectionsand "connected bya common fish-pole jpint, (see Fig. 11,) so that thelength of said tube and rod may be indefinitely increased. Ashort handle44 is preferably connected to the rod 42 and extends through a slot inthe tube41 closely adjacent the upper end of the tube 39. A plunger 45is arranged in said tube 39, and a rod 46 is connected thereto andextends through the upper end of the casing 39, as \shown in Fig. 6.

A rack 47 is removably connected by clamps 47 to one side of the shaft 8and extends l'on' gitudinally thereof, and a pinion 48 is secured to ashaft 49, which is journaledin a tripod 50, and is providedwith a crank51.

Having now described the construction of my device, the mannr'of usingthe same may be describedasfollo'ws: The frame 32 is firmly secured tothe ground about the place where' it is desired to sink the hole intothe earth, said frame'being arranged so that its standards 31 will be ina substantially vertical position. The frame 1 is then placed in theposition shown in Fig. 1, so that said standards 31 pass throughguide-lugs 1: of the frame, valve 8 Y I is closed, (see Fig.15,*) tank.7. is filled with. oil or other liquid, and the burner is lighted,

,;so that the oil is heated to a comparatively thigh .temperature'..nected directly to the lower end of the shaft 8, 3 i 'sb" that itscutting end' rests on the ground,-

The tool 33 is fiI'S'UCOIl'.

"and the platforms 26 will then be nearly hori- 'zontal, as shown inFig. 1. Valve 8 is then fiopened, and the two men who are to'operate-Tithe device thentake their places upon the platforms 26and rotate theshafts 3 bymeans of the cranks 4, so that the tank 7, shaft 8,

are rotated the piston 17 will be reciprocated, drawing the heatedliquid in the tank into the passage 24 and forcing the same down throughthe chambers of the tool and back again up the passages 23 into thetank. As the platforms 26 are flexibly connected with the frame 1 andas, fully one-half the weight of each man is sustained by saidframe,which is in turn sustained by the tool as its end rests on theground, it will be obvious that the weight of the men will aidmaterially in forcing the tool into the earth as it is rotated. The arms11 serve an important function, as they give the men who rotate thedriving-shaft something to brace and tool 33 will be rotated. As theshafts 3 against as they turn the cranks. Asthe toolis driven into theearth the platforms tip to some extent as they swing downwardly, and therollers 30 on the ends of the legs 29 at the same time I 0 5permit-thelegs to slide away from the shaft 8. As soon as the liquid iscirculated through the tool it becomes heated by the 'liquid,enf{

abling the tool to melt thefrost in the earth and dry and soften it, sothat the work of boring the hole in the ground is greatly facilitated.The tool will sink into the earth until the collars 28 rest on thesurface thereof and further downward movement is prevented." The valve 8is then closed, the tool is uncoupled from the, lower end of the shaft8, and the frame 1 is again lifted. Shaft 8 is then connected to theupper endof the tool 33 and to the lower end of the shaft 8, as

.shown in Fig. 1, and the valve 8 is again. opened and the boringoperation continued.

W hen the collars 28 again sink to the ground, the'valve 8 is againclosed, and another shaft similar to the shaft8' is interposed betweenshaft8 and the previously added section, so that the length of shaft 8is again increased. Succeeding sections of shaft 8, tube .42, and rod 41are thus added until the tool is driven to therlesired depth. When thetoolf-is driven below the frost line, the pump may be disconnectedandthe heating of the liquid in tank 7 discontinued. During the first partof the operation the earth will be readily discharged at the surface;but as soon as the tool is forced below the surface to a considerabledepth it will be necessary to employ the earthremoving tube 39, alreadydescribed. Tube 39 is then placed in the position shown in Figs. 6 and7, with the plate 40 drawn up so 39 is full, the rod 42 is forceddownwardly, causing the plate 40 to close the lower end of the tube, asshown in Fig. 6. Then pipe 41 is drawn upward, lifting the tube 39 outof engagement with the. tool-body 3.3. As the ends of pipe 41 and rod 42would strike the frame as it is drawn up, the sections thereof will beunjointed as they are drawn to the surface, so that the tube 39 may bedrawn from the hole without disturbing the boring apparatus When saidtube is removed, the plate 40 is drawn upwardly by means of the handle44, and the end of the tube is opened so that the earth therein'may beexpelled by means of the plunger 45. After the earthis removed fromthetube it is again forced down into engagement with the tool-body 33, thepipe 41 and rod 42 beingagain coupled as it is lowered. The loose sharpedged disks 37 serve to loosen the earth .in advance of the eagagementof the blade therewith. When it is necessary to remove the tool-body33so as to supply a new blade, the valve 8 ,closed, and tl1e""" shaft 8 isdisconnected from the adjacent section 8, and then the. whole frame andits connected parts are lifted above the ends of the guiding-standards31 and moved'to one side. The tripod is'thenar- '..-.rang ed";so thatits pinion 48 engages the rack 547-011 the shaft 8, and-the crank isturned,

lifting. the tool out of the ground. in Figs. 16 to 22 I show a modifiedform of jborinlg qtool which I preferably employin bor- Fiih'g, holes incertain earth formations. tool shown in sald figures resembles an or-The dinary form of twist-drill, except that the cutting end thereof isprovided with a pair of oppositely-arranged blades 6l,whieh are fittedinto tapering dovetailed grooves in the ends of the spirals of thedrill, as previously described with respect to'blade 35 of tool 33. Thespirally-extending grooves 605 of the tool lead down to the cuttingedges of the blades, so that as thematerial is cut away by the blades itwill be lifted into the grooves and gradually forced upwardly as thetool rotates.

. These grooves are preferably made relatively narrow at their lowerendsand gradually increase 1n width as they ascend, so that the danger ofcloggmg arlslng from-the material becoming wedged into the grooves ispractically'obviated. The tool is preferably made up of a series ofsections whichare firmly connected together. The upper end of eachsection is provided with an obliquely-disposed I seat 60*, as shown inFig. 17, having shoulders 60 at its ends, which extend, obliquely to thesurface of the seat and provide a V- shaped socket. The lower end of thenext section above is made to fit said seat and joint will not be takenupto a material extent by said screws 62, but the force will be exertedagainst the shoulders 60 and the seat 60". Said screws are necessary,however, to

The drill G0 is made of cast-steel, and when it is i keep the parts intheir proper positions.

cast each spiral of the drill is cored so that passages 23 and 24? areformed therein, said passages extending throughout the entire length ofeach section except the lower section, which bears the knives 61. gatedslot (see'Fig. 22) is formed in the middle portion of the'lower section,which connects the lower ends of said passages and affords freecirculation of liquid closely adjacent the blades of the tool. The uppersection 6O is'contracted at its upper end, and

An elonpassages 23 24 therethrough lead into said contracted portion,the latter being provided with tongues and being threaded, so that itmay be connected to the lower end of shaft 8 or one of the sections 8,as previously described. The sections of the. drill between the lowersection, which carries the blades, and the upper section, to which theshaft 8 is connected, are substantially identical and may be increasedin number to any extent requiredwithin certain limits. -Each of theseintermediate stations are practically identical, and

they are so formed that the ends of the passages through one sectionwill register with the ends of the passages in the adjacent sections..The manner of operating this tool is identical with that previouslydescribed, the

tool being heated by the circulated liquid and the frost being extractedfrom the earth as it is cut away by the tool. The material which iscutaway by the knives is carried up by the spirals as the tool isrotated, or the tool may be drawn out of the earth after the spiralshave been filled and the earth removed therefrom. In .practice it willbe necessary to remove the tool at comparatively -short intervals onaccount of the necessity of changing the blades 61, which will becomedulled after a certain length of time, dependent largely on thecharacteriof the earth through which the able distance below its surfacewithout its being necessary to'sink a shaft. I

The feature of heating the tool while it is being driven through thefrozen earth may be advantageously employed on a larger scale than thatshown, and other changes may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A prospecting instrument comprising a boring-tool having a pair ofliquid-tightpas sages connected at the lower end .of the tool,' andextending longitudinally thereof, means for operating said tool, areservoir and means for circulating heated liquid through said reservoirand passages, substantially as described.

2. A prospecting instrument comprising a boring-tool having a cuttingedge at its lower end, two liquid-tight passages which extendlongitudinally of said tool and are connected at their lower endsclosely adjacent said cut-: ting edge, areservoir into which both saidpassages leadxm'eans for operating said tool, and meansforcirculatingheated liquid through' said reservoir and passages, substantially asdescribed. I i l 3. A prospecting instrument comprising a shaft havingtwo liquid-tight passages which extend longitudinally thereof, aboring-tool which is connected to said shaft and is pro vided withpassages which are respectively connected with the passages therein,said passages being connected near the cutting edge of the tool,afluid-containing reservoir, means for heating the same, connectionsbetween said reservoir and the passages of said shaft, means forcirculating heated liquid through said reservoir and passages, and meansfor rotating said shaft,- substantially as described,

4. A prospecting instrument comprising a shaft having two passages whichextend longitudinally thereof, a tool which is connected to one end ofsaid shaft, said tool having pas-- sages which register with thepassages of said shaft andare connected at the cutting end of saidtool,a liquid-containing tank which is borne .bysaid shaft and. is connectedto the ;-passages therein, a'pump for forcing theiliquid into one ofsaid passages'and for causing the same to be discharged back into thetank through the other passage, means for rotating said shaft and forsimultaneously operating said pump, substantially as described.

5.- A device of'the character described comprising a frame, apair ofdriving-shafts journaled thereon, a tubular shaft which is journaled insaid frame and is operativelyconnected with said driving-shafts and hasa pair of liquid-passages therein,a tool which is con nected to saidshaft and is provided with a pair of liquid-passages which arerespectively 7 connected with the passages of said shaft, aliquidcontaining tank which is carried by said shaft and is connected tothe passages v thereof, av pump which is operated by one of saiddriving-shaf ts and circulates the'liquid in said tank through saidpassages, and means for); heating said liquid, substantially asdescribedt;

6.; A device of the character described com prising a frame, apair ofplatforms which are flexibly connected to said frame at their adjacentends, a supporting-leg for the opposite ends of each platform, a pair ofdriving-shafts which are journaled in said frame having cranks, anupright shaft which is journaled in said frame and is provided with aboring-tool at its lower end, and suitable connections between saidupright shaftand said drivingshafts whereby the :upright shaft may'berotated, substantially as described.

' 7. A device for the purpose described, com prising a frame, a pair'ofoppositely-arranged platforms which are flexibly connected to said frameat adjacent ends, supporting-legs which are connected to the oppositeends of. said platforms, a'pair of horizontal driving-shafts which arejournaled in said frame having suitably-arranged cranks, an uprightshaft which is journaled in said frame and is operatively connected withsaid driving-shaft, a boringtool which -is connected to said uprightshaft, and arms which are rigidly connected with said frame and extendto one side of said platforms between the platforms and the cranks,"substantially as described.

8. A device of thecharacter described com- -prising aframe, a tubularshaft which is journaled in said frame and is provided with a pair oflongitudinallyextending passages, means for closing both of saidpassages, a

liquid-containing tank which is connected to said passages, means forheating the liquid in said tank, a boring-tool connected to said shafbeyond said closing means and provided with a pair ofcirculating-passages which extend to the upper end thereof, saidpassages registering with the passages of said shaft, means carried bysaid frame for rotating said tubular shaft, and means for conducting theliquid in said tank through said passages and returning.

the same thereto, substantially as described.

9; A device for the purpose described comprising a boring-tool having anearth-receivingrecess, means for rotating the same, means for removingthe borings of said tool com-v prising a tube open at its lower end andarranged in said recess, a flexible plate arranged to slide is withinsaid tube and connected to one side thereof, means for reciprocatingsaid plate which'e'x'tends upwardly from said tube, means for bendingsaid blade to an oblique position as it is forced downwardlyt'o thereby.scribed.

close the lower end of said tube, and means platform, and meansconnected to said shaft for operating the same, substantially as de- 11.Adevice of the character described comprising a frame, an uprighttool-carrying shaft. which is journaled and heldagainst longitndinalmovement therein, a pair of plat- "forms which are flexibly connected atadjacent ends to said frame, means. for rotating said upright shaft, andmeans for guiding said frame in a direction parallel toj the axis ofsaid shaft, substantially as described.

12. A device for the purpose described coni- 4 prising, averticallymovable frame, an upright shaft journaled therein, means forrotating said shaft,a boring-tool connected with the lower end of saidshaft,a horizontallyarranged gear which is connected to said shaft,

a pair of driving-shafts which are journaled in said. frame and areprovided with gears which mesh with said horizontal gear, cranks whichare connected to the outer ends, of said driving-shafts, a pair .ofplatforms which are flexibly connected to said frame at their adjacentends and are arranged beneath said cranks, a pair of legs which areconnected to the opposite ends of said platforms, and curved arms whichare connected to each side of said frame and extend to one'side of eachplatform between the platforms and the cranks, substantiallyasdescribed.

'In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresenceof two subscribingwitnesses.

a MILTON CHASE. Witnesses:

Loms H. HARRIMAN, J. L. HUTCHINSON.

